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1001 Inventions Exhibition in Abu Dhabi

1001 Inventions, the award-winning global initiative about the history of science in Muslim civilisation, will launch its new venue in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as part of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival in November 19th, 2011.

The latest 1001 Inventions exhibition, and the first designed specifically for a Middle East audience, enjoyed a glamorous Royal launch in the UAE’s capital on the 19th of November 2011, where it was resident for five weeks until the 24th of December 2011. During that time the exhibition attracted more than 75,000 visitors.

The free educational showcase, which was crowned the world’s “Best Touring Exhibition” earlier in the year, attracted large crowds to the Abu Dhabi Corniche on its opening day as it welcomed more than 2,000 visitors in the first three hours.

1001 Inventions was an anchor attraction within the inaugural Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF), which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) in partnership with Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). Guest of Honour at the 1001 Inventions opening event was His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for the United Arab Emirates.

Following successful residencies in London, Istanbul, New York and Los Angeles, where it has attracted a combined audience of millions, 1001 Inventions launched a bi-lingual Arabic-English touring exhibition in response to persistent public demand. The new exhibition was launched at a grand opening event under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Prof. Salim Al-Hassani, the chairman of 1001 Inventions and FSTC, explained the background behind this latest incarnation of the 1001 Inventions show: “Since its launch in 2006, our exhibitions have attracted record numbers of visitors at venues throughout Europe and the USA. So far more than 2 million people have walked through our doors to see the 1001 Inventions shows in person, including numerous Heads of State, Ambassadors, Government Ministers and Royalty from around the world. Interest in and support for the 1001 Inventions initiative has grown dramatically over the past 5 years and throughout this time we have received thousands of messages from our fans in the Middle East urging us to bring 1001 Inventions to the Arabic-speaking world.

For the past two years we’ve been planning to produce a show specifically for the Middle-East and we’re delighted that the Abu Dhabi Technology DevelopmentCommittee has welcomed us to the UAE so enthusiastically. This is the first time we have brought the 1001 Inventions show to the Arab world, and we hope that our new Arabic/English exhibition will be as popular in the UAE as our original show has been in the USA and Europe.

This bi-lingual exhibition takes our initiative to a whole new level. The 1001 Inventions show we’re launching in Abu Dhabi is our most technologically sophisticated production to date, featuring many new electronic games and hands-on exhibits, which utilise the latest advances in interactive entertainment. This has all been possible thanks to the generosity of numerous supporters, including our ‘Strategic Partner’ the Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI).”

The Abu Dhabi Science Festival is a science popularization project which is geared towards building the Emirate’s talent base in science, technology and innovation. The festival will be a world-class annual event which showcases the fun and excitement of science to young people from Abu Dhabi in a creative and new way.

ADSF is organised by The Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC), the Abu Dhabi Government entity charged with supporting the elevation of Abu Dhabi to a world-class center for science, technology and innovation.

His Excellency Ahmed Al Calily, Director General of TDC, said: “The Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee is proud to announce the Abu Dhabi Science Festival, a world-class annual event which showcases the fun and excitement of science and technology to the young people of the Emirate in a creative and new way. Abu Dhabi’s vision is to build a knowledge based society and is investing heavily in technology industries to achieve this. This in turn requires a scientifically literate society and a well equipped talent base; this festival is one of the efforts that will help build this talent base.”

Fady Jameel, President of ALJ Community Initiatives International (ALJCI) commented: “ALJCI is proud to partner with 1001 inventions in the new Arabic-English version of the 1001 Inventions exhibition, and we’re very excited about the partnership with Abu Dhabi Science Festival, which will bring this ground-breaking touring exhibition to a new audience. ALJCI is passionate about inspiring young people to become the scientists and engineers of the future, and supporting educational initiatives like 1001 Inventions is a core activity of our international philanthropic programme.”

The Abu Dhabi Science Festival will be a major annual event and its inaugural edition will run over nine days and takes place from 18th to 26th November 2011 at different prominent locations around the Emirate, including the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and the Abu Dhabi Corniche. In organizing this city-wide festival TDC is collaborating with 1001 Inventions and the Edinburgh International Science Festival as Programming Partners.

The 1001 Inventions exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, at the Abu Dhabi Corniche from the 19th of November until the 24th of December 2011. Further information about Abu Dhabi Science Festival is available at www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae

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About Abu Dhabi Science Festival

The Abu Dhabi Science Festival is a major science popularization initiative that TDC is driving to support the building of Abu Dhabi’s world-class talent base as part of its overarching mandate to help develop Science, Technology and Innovation in Abu Dhabi. The event is presented by TDC and Tawazun in association with Dolphin Energy.

In organizing this city-wide festival TDC is collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), as the festival’s Education Partner, as well as 1001 Inventions and the Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF), as Programming Partners. The collaboration with ADEC, the festival’s education partner, ensures alignment with Abu Dhabi’s education reforms as well as the engagement of Abu Dhabi’s school children and education community. The festival is also sponsored by Total and GHC.

The nine-day event aims to spark the curiosity of the Emirate’s youth in science, technology and innovation (STI) and will encompass over 150 of the world’s most exciting informal science learning experiences, including interactive exhibits, fun workshops and spectacular shows. The festival will cover different fields of STI including robotics, archaeology, aeronautics, physics, biology and chemistry, with the experiences designed to excite young people about the wonders and fun of science and technology whilst stimulating their inquisitive learning skills.

TDC is partnering with a number of leading Abu Dhabi universities and higher education colleges such as Emirates College of Advanced Education, Abu Dhabi University, Higher Colleges of Technology - Abu Dhabi Women's College and UAE University from which the students will be selected, giving them a unique opportunity to participate in this world-class science festival and help the visitors make the most of their experience at the event.

About 1001 Inventions and FSTC

1001 Inventions was created by the academic Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC). Based in Manchester (UK), its mission is to raise awareness of the contributions the Muslim world has made to building the foundations of modern civilisation. FSTC works very closely with academics, researchers and experts in the field, in order to raise widespread public awareness about the achievements of Muslim civilisation (and other connected civilisations). Further information is available on FSTCs popular website MuslimHeritage.com

1001 Inventions is a global educational initiative that promotes awareness of a thousand years of scientific and cultural achievements from Muslim civilisation from the 7th century onwards, and how those contributions helped build the foundations of our modern world.

About ALJCI

Construction of the new 1001 Inventions touring exhibition was sponsored by Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI). ALJCI is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the ALJ Group, which is a Toyota automobiles distributor in 13 different countries. ALJCI plans and operates numerous global programs, such as poverty-alleviation initiatives, artistic and educational projects and technology innovation grants, including a long history of scholarships for students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For further information about Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives visit www.aljci.org